Electrically heated tool for soldering pipe connector sleeves

Abstract

An electrically heated tool for heating a pipe connector sleeve in order to melt solder therein or applied thereto to secure the sleeve to a pipe has a pair of arms (1) hingedly connected to one another between their ends by a pin (2) in the manner of pliers. An electric heating unit (3) having an elongated shaft portion (9) enclosing an electric resistance heating element is detachably secured to and projects from one and the same end of each arm. The free end of each shaft portion (9) is detachably slidably inserted into the tubular shank of a metallic head part (4) having a semi-circular recess (4a) of a radius substantially equal to the radius of the pipe or sleeve to be heated. The arms are movable between an open position in which the recesses are spaced apart and a position in which the recesses are closed together around a pipe connector sleeve so as to apply heat thereto.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A tool for heating a pipe connector sleeve in order to melt solder provided therein or applied thereto to secure said pipe connector sleeve to a pipe, said tool comprising: a pair of arms, each of said arms of said pair of arms having a first end and a second end, each of said pair of arms further being hingedly connected to one another between said first end and said second end of each said pair of arms, the first end of the first of said pair of arms being disposed adjacent the first end of the second of said pair of arms, the second end of the first of said pair of arms being disposed adjacent the second end of the second of said pair of arms;   first electric heating element means having a first shaft portion, said first shaft portion enclosing an electric heating element and having a first end and a second end, the first end of said first shaft portion being secured to said first end of one of said pair of arms with said first shaft portion extending therefrom, a first metallic head part, said first metallic head part having a part-circular recess that is adapted to contact said pipe connector sleeve to apply heat thereto, said first metallic head part having a tubular shank by which it is detachably and slidably attached to said second end of said first shaft portion to permit the rapid changing of said first metallic head part; and   second electric heating element means having a second shaft portion, said second shaft portion enclosing an electric heating element and having a first end and a second end, the first end of said second shaft portion being secured to said first end of the other of said pair of arms with said second shaft portion extending therefrom, a second metallic head part having a part-circular recess that is adapted to contact said pipe connector sleeve to apply heat thereto, said second metallic head part having a tubular shank by which it is detachably and slidably attached to said second end of said second shaft portion to permit the rapid changing of said second metallic head part;   said first electric heating element means and said second electric heating element means, respectively, being adapted to heat said first metallic head part and said second metallic head part to a soldering temperature;   the arms of said pair of arms being pivotable with respect to one another about said hinged connection therebetween so that the part-circular recess of said first metallic head part and the part-circular recess of said second metallic head part can be closed together in juxtaposed relationship around said pipe connector sleeve to apply heat to the pipe connector sleeve.   
     
     
       2. A tool according to claim 1 wherein said first shaft portion has a first central longitudinal axis, wherein said second shaft portion has a second central longitudinal axis and wherein each of the part-circular recesses of said first metallic head part and said second metallic head part has a central axis, said central axis of the part-circular recesses of said first metallic head part and said central axis of said second metallic head part lying transverse to and between said first central longitudinal axis and said second central longitudinal axis whereby said part-circular recess of said first metallic head part is offset from said first shaft portion toward said second shaft portion and said part-circular recess of said second metallic head part is offset from said second shaft portion toward said first shaft portion. 
     
     
       3. A tool according to claim 2 wherein each of said pair of arms has a socket at said one of said first and second ends to which the respective one of said first electric heating element means and said second electric heating element means is secured and extends, said first shaft portion of said first heating element means being received in said socket of one of said pair of arms, said second shaft portion of said second heating element means being received in said socket of the other of said pair of arms, and further comprising: a first externally corrugated bushing surrounding said first shaft portion adjacent said socket in which said first shaft portion is received, and a second externally corrugated bushing surrounding said second shaft portion adjacent said socket in which said second shaft portion is received.   
     
     
       4. A tool according to claim 1 wherein each of said pair of arms has a socket at said one of said first and second ends to which the respective one of said first electric heating element means and said second electric heating means is secured and extends, said first shaft portion of said first heating element means being received in said socket of one of said pair of arms, said second shaft portion of said second heating element means being received in said socket of the other of said pair of arms, and further comprising: a first externally corrugated bushing surrounding said first shaft portion adjacent said socket in which said first shaft portion is received, and a second externally corrugated bushing surrounding said second shaft portion adjacent said socket in which said second shaft portion is received.